Our Ref: 2068418 1/CJC P/00/0 Il I Regulation 3:2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): Anzpac Services (Australia) Pty Limited 32 Britton Street, Smthfield, New South Wales 2164, Australia Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys 255 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: "A container with detachable cup" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- - 1 CONTAINER WITH A DETACHABLE CUP Technical Field 5 [001] The present invention generally relates to containers, cartons, boxes or the like, and more particularly to containers, cartons or boxes for holding a flowable, powder and/or granular type substance. Background 10 [002] As used herein, reference to a "container" should be taken as a general reference to a container, carton, box, package or the like. Also as used herein, reference to a "cup" should be taken as a general reference to a cup, scoop, measure, receptacle, holder or the like. 15 [003] It is known to produce a container for holding flowable, powder and/or granular type substances. It is also known to provide a container for sale to a consumer where the container holds the flowable, powder and/or granular type substance, i.e. in liquid or solid form, that can be poured from the container after opening the container. For example, the container might contain a powder or granular solid such as washing machine powder, pet 20 food, or a wide variety of other products of use to consumers. [004] It is known to provide an opening in such a container, for example made of cardboard, by pushing a perforated section to expose the opening. This allows access to the contents of the container, that then can be poured or tipped from the container, without 25 necessarily opening glued flaps of the container, which can destroy the rigidity of the container. It is also known to provide a tear strip as part of a container to allow a user to pull the tear strip away which then provides access to the interior contents of the container. [005] In these types of containers, it is advantageous to seal the contents of the container 30 using perforations or a tear strip so that it is clearly visible to a consumer if the container has previously been used or opened. [006] It is also known to provide a container with a separate and distinct cup. For example, plastic containers for holding a liquid or powder may provide a lid that can also -2 function as a cup, which can be used for measuring a quantity of the contents of the container. It is also known to provide a separate cup internal to a container. For example, it is known to provide a cardboard container for holding washing machine powder with an internal cup provided together with the contents of the container. A user can remove a tear 5 strip from the container allowing a lid section to be opened and thereby providing the user with access to the internal cup sitting with the washing machine powder contents. [007] However, the Applicant is not aware of any known container where a cup can be detached from part of the container. This identifies a need for an improved container 10 including a detachable cup. [008] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from the prior publication), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior 15 publication (or information derived from the prior publication) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Brief Summary 20 [009] In a broad form the present invention provides a container including a detachable cup. [010] Preferably, the cup initially forms at least part of the container. In one aspect, the cup initially forms at least part of the outer surface of the container. Also preferably, the 25 cup is at least partially attached to the container by a removable strip, or the like, such as a tear strip. [011] In use, removal of the removable strip allows the cup to be detached from the container and used as a cup. For example, the contents of the container, which may be a 30 flowable, powder and/or granular type substance, in liquid or solid form, can be poured from an opening in the container into the cup that may provide an indication of the volume or quantity of substance (i.e. contents) being used.
-3 [012] In a particular example aspect, after the cup has been detached, the cup can be replaced or positioned at the cup's original position relative to the container. Preferably, though not necessarily, the cup is removably held in place by at least one holding flap or tab. Thus, in this form, the cup can also act as a form of cover or lid for an opening 5 provided in the container. When the cup is replaced at the cup's original position, the cup can be positioned over an opening of the container to prevent foreign bodies entering the container or for the contents of the container to be spilt. [013] According to another example aspect, the cup is formed of or includes at least one 10 outer corner section or portion of the container. Preferably, the cup is formed of or includes two outer corner sections or portions of the container. [014] According to yet another example aspect, the removable strip includes at least one curved section. For example, optionally, the at least one curved section may be an arcuate 15 section or a sinusoidal section. Having at least one curved section can assist in forming a pouring spout for the cup, and can assist in removal of the removable strip to prevent breaking of the removable strip. Brief Description Of Figures 20 [015] Example embodiments should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of at least one preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures. [016] Figure 1 is a right hand side perspective view of an example container with an 25 example detachable cup; [017] Figure 2 is a left side plan view thereof; [018] Figure 3 is a right side plan view thereof; [019] Figure 4 is a front plan view thereof; [020] Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof; 30 [0211 Figure 6 is a left hand side perspective view with an example removable strip partially removed; -4 [022] Figure 7 is a right hand side perspective view with the removable strip fully removed; [023] Figure 8 is a right hand side perspective view with the removable strip fully removed and the cup partially removed from the container; and 5 [024] Figure 9 is a left hand side perspective view of the cup detached from the container. Preferred Embodiments [025] The following modes, given by way of example only, are described in order to provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment or 10 embodiments. [026] In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of an example embodiment, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout the figures. 15 [027] Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a container 10 including a detachable cup 12. Cup 12 initially forms at least part of an outer surface of container 10. Outer surfaces of container 10 include front surface 14, top surface 16, first side surface 18 and second side surface 20. Cup 12 is at least partially attached to container 10 by removable strip 22, which may also be referred to as a tear strip. 20 [028] Removable strip 22 forms an intermediate area between cup 12 and other outer surfaces of container 10 with the periphery of removable strip 22 provided as lines of perforations 24 to allow easy removal or tearing of removable strip 22. Removal of removable strip 22 allows cup 12 to be detached or otherwise removed from the body of 25 container 10. In various embodiments, cup 12 may have other points of attachment to container 10, for example a further line of perforations provided on top surface 16, however, after removal of removable strip 22 then cup 12 can be readily removed from container 10. 30 [029] Removable strip 22 can additionally be provided with first tab 26 and/or second tab 28. A user could use first tab 26 and/or second tab 28 as a gripping point to assist in pulling and removing removable strip 22.
-5 [030] Referring to Fig. 2, there is illustrated first side surface 18 and back surface 30 of container 10, and fold line 32 of cup 12. Fold line 32 can be optionally provided to enable a spout to be formed in cup 12 after cup 12 has been removed from container 10. As illustrated in Fig. 2, removable strip 22 includes at least one curved section in the form of a 5 sinusoidal or wave like variation. This can assist in forming a spout and may also assist in preventing removable strip 22 from breaking as it is being removed. [031] As illustrated in Fig. 3, removable strip 22 can also be provided with at least one curved section as part of second side surface 20 of container 10. This provides a useful 10 curved edge of cup 12 that can be held by a flap or tab provided underneath cup 12 as part of container 10. Also, the curved section of removable strip 22 may assist in preventing removable strip 22 from breaking during removal. In Fig. 3, removable strip is illustrated as having an arcuate section. 15 [032] It should be noted that a variety of different shapes or configurations of removable strip 22 could be utilised, for example removable strip 22 could be substantially linear or angled along each surface of container 10. [033] Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a front plan view and a top plan view of container 10, 20 respectively. [034] Fig. 6 illustrates a left hand side perspective view of container 10 with removable strip 22 partially removed from first side surface 18. Fig. 7 illustrates a right hand side perspective view of container 10 with removable strip 22 fully removed from cup 12 and 25 container 10. [035] Fig. 8 illustrates a right hand side perspective view of container 10 after removable strip 22 has been fully removed and cup 12 has been lifted to expose opening 34 in container 10. Cup 12 now can be easily removed or detached from container 10. In 30 various embodiments, cup 12 still could be removably fixed to container 10, for example by a further line(s) of perforations, or could have no further attachment means to container 10. Removal of cup 12 exposes interior front surface 36, interior top surface 38, interior first side surface 40 and interior second side surface 42 of container 10. Also illustrated is -6 at least one holding tab 44 which can be provided as part of interior second side surface 42. In another embodiment, one or more holding tabs could be additionally or alternatively provided as part of interior first side surface 40. 5 [036] Referring to Fig. 9, there is illustrated a left hand side perspective view of container 10 with cup 12 fully detached or removed from container 10. Opening 34 of container 10 is exposed to enable the contents of container 10 to be poured out of container 10. Removal of cup 12 also exposes, or creates, holding flap 46. In various forms, holding flap 46 can extend along the extent of top surface 16, partially along the extent of top 10 surface 16, or can be split into one or more holding tabs. Furthermore, although holding tab 44 and holding flap 46 in the embodiment illustrated are provided as part of container 10, it is possible that holding tabs or flaps may be provided as part of detachable cup 12 that can receive corresponding projections, tabs, etc. provided in various locations as part of container 10. 15 [037] When removed cup 12 can be used as a holding vessel or type of measure to receive contents from container 10, for example flowable, powder and/or granular material, other forms of solid, or a liquid. Optionally, cup 12 can be provided with visual markings or indications to specify a volume or quantity, for example first measure line 48 20 and second measure line 50. In Fig. 9, cup 12 is also illustrated where a user has made a fold or angle along fold line 32 to produce a spout for ease of pouring the contents of cup 12. [038] After cup 12 has been detached then cup 12 can be replaced or positioned at its 25 original position or location relative to container 10, for example to provide a cover for opening 34. Cup 12 is removably held in place by at least one holding flap or tab, for example holding tab 44 and/or holding flap 46. Top edge region 52 of cup 12 can be at least partially received under holding flap 46. Likewise, side edge region 54 of cup 12 can be at least partially received under holding tab 44. Thus, the at least one holding flap or 30 tab assists in holding cup 12 in position relative to container 10 so that cup 12 is positioned over opening 34 of container 10.
-7 [039] It should be noted that opening 34 might initially be provided with a type of seal that is required to be removed prior to first using the contents of container 10. For example, an additional seal may initially be provided over opening 34 to reduce exposure of the contents to air and to provide a consumer with additional assurance that the contents 5 of container 10 have not been tampered with. [040] As illustrated in the figures, cup 12 is formed of or includes two outer corner sections of container 10, being first corner 56 and second corner 58. In an alternate embodiment, a detachable cup may be formed of or include only one corner section of a 10 container. In this alternate embodiment, a removable strip could be provided on two adjoining faces of a container rather than three faces as illustrated in the preferred embodiment. In this alternate embodiment, an opening may be provided in the container underneath the corner section to be removed that forms part of the cup. 15 [041] Preferably, though not necessarily, container 10, cup 12 and removable strip 22 could be formed of various types of cardboard. It is possible, however, that the container, detachable cup and/or removable strip are formed of different materials than each other. [042] Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist 20 in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 25 [043] Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that many modifications, changes, substitutions or alterations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 30